Last Sunday I said, "Do not judge me by how I preach or by what I say on the platform, but judge me by my lifestyle of the platform". I went as far as to invite people to spend a day with me. Well, today would have been the day! Although it started at 2 am - 3.30 am when I did some praying and some work before crashing out for 4 hours.
1. Having left Kathleen off at the Playgroup before 8 am I returned home to do some emails and make some calls before having breakfast.
2. I got into the church for 10 am. Played pool with Boneyard. He beat me on the black ball. We are now all square.
3. I met with Jeffrey Donaldson MP. Showed him around the building. Jonathan and Tommy I chatted with him for over an hour.
4. Met with Billy Haddock regarding work taking place in the building to get the playgroup moved in soon.
5. Met with Monika regarding the development of COPE.
6. Printed out a reference for Misam whose appeal against being returned to Iran is being heard on Thursday.
7. Met with Robert regarding plumbing for playgroup toilets etc.
8. I felt led to phone Brendy and arrange to meet with him at a moment's notice. We met in the Cultra Lan (Irish for Culture Land) cafe on the Falls Road. As most of you know, Brendy is an ex-Provo, born again who totally loves Jesus. As we walked into Cultra Lan, Eddie Copeland, the commander of the IRA in Ardoyne and full dissident, was standing at the door. Brendy told me he had been talking to Eddie Copeland about meeting me there. As I walked through the door, and was within an inch of Copeland, Brendy decided to introduce us. Copeland was as uncomfortable looking as I felt. We looked into each others eyes with the same amount of awkwardness. I grunted out "How ya doin'" and literally made sure that my hand did not extend towards him. It was obvious that he was doing the same! I very quickly moved past him as I had nothing to say to him (nothing he would have wanted to hear!).
When I sat down Brendy sat next to me. We talked about that awkward moment. I explained my reason to Brendy for not shaking Copeland's hand, which is the fact that he was responsible for the Shankill bomb that killed women and children and that he is still actively involved in and is spearheading terrorism. Brendy told me that Copeland had asked him, "Was Jack ever in anything?" Brendy answered, "He was in the UDR for five years, but that's all in the past and he's willing to come here and be friends with me!" I said, "Brendy, are you trying to set me up?" He said, "Listen Jack, if anyone comes through that door to attack you, they'll have to get by me first". I laughed and said, "Yeah, and when they do that, I'm second!" I explained I had no problem shaking hands with anyone coming through those doors who are genuine about moving forward. Well, twenty minutes later Copeland left the door and a few minutes later Gerry Adams walked in!!! Can you see what's coming here?
Gerry and Brendy waved at each other and then Gerry Adams came over to our table. As they shook hands Brendy said, "Have you met Jack?". Gerry Adams looked at me and said, "Ah, from the Shankill!" Then guess what? He immediately put his hand out to me!!! As I shook his hand he said, "Fair play d'yee" (Irish for Fair play to you). I told him I was going to contact him to invite him to our building. He told me to drop him a note and that he would come round! All in one day! From Jeffrey Donaldson to Eddie Copeland to Gerry Adams. I sat and said, "God I see this, but I don't understand it". I felt God say back to me, "This is not the time to understand, but the time to trust". All this took place two days after two people committed their life to Christ at our church following the message I brought on Sunday morning; one a boy and one a man. I spoke with the man afterwards. He told me he had been brought up Catholic and is a member of Sinn Fein and is doing a thesis at Queen's making comparisons between the Republican Conflict in Ireland and the Basque campaign in Spain. He said to me, "I like what you said about not condemning people for politics or religious beliefs or sexual lifestyle, but of God loving everyone". Although I did underline the importance of repentance, which he understood.
9. Met with Kevin the muffin man for a while before having dinner. So from Jeffrey Donaldson to Eddie Copeland to Gerry Adams to Kevin the muffin man!
10. 7.10 pm Writing this email!
All things to all men!
Jack
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